Chapter 6 - Edge Of Civilization

(1st Saga - Greater Magius, The Balance | Wandering Arc)

The scene set by Hanakawa’s absence was now eerily silent. A ‘peace’ in which none could find solace. Since the clash that ensued during the Finale Event, the sinkhole that consumed the village’s remnants had considerably widened. Half the lake’s water had vanished down this hole, washing away the debris amidst the underground ruins into cavernous channels that ran deeper into the darkness beneath the light.

In this underground, a figure grasped at a fallen stone tower, desperately trying to lift its own body up. Their strength failed them as their arms gave out, their body falling to the ground with a heavy thud. 

Following the Finale Event into which Seraphim was summoned, his body and core had been shattered into an uncountable number of pieces. Now, his core was shakily held together by crystalline chains of corrupted energy, a ‘gift’ from his higher-ups that allowed him to keep living. Yet, the reaction that violently sparked between his core and the barrier had left his corrupted energy in a state of disarray, leaving him only able to regenerate his upper body to a decayed appearance. What remained of this ‘recreated’ form seemed like it’d better fit a frail beggar who hadn’t eaten in weeks.

The crawl from the barrier back to the ruins was a living hell of several days for a being accustomed to flight and teleportation. Upon dropping into the sinkhole, the damage from the landing only added to the insult he felt in his current state. However, he kept moving forwards towards the center of the ruins, inching forwards with motivation he never thought he could feel, a motivation of vengeance against a human who dared to defy him.

The center of the ruins featured a massive circular plaza devoid of any architecture, only featuring a large statue erected at the center that depicted a heroic figure. The statue’s arms were outstretched, as if holding a sword, yet held nothing within its hands.

Seraphim dragged himself up the statue’s legs, the thought of which was revolting to him. Finally reaching the statue’s hands, he found that they were truly empty.

“...how..? No, no, no, none of the humans could have known about- Who was it- The kid? Was it that kid? He dares obstruct my duty even in his absence-”

A heavy force slammed into his ribs and flung him to the edge of the plaza. Small fragments of his core broke free from the chains on impact, instantly losing their crimson hue as they scattered from his body.

“You’re too loud”

As Seraphim’s eyes focused on his aggressor, his face phased through numerous expressions of hatred and shock. How could he not recognize the one who left him in this sorry state? How could he forget the face he kept at the forefront of his mind, spitting curses in hopes of their death for consecutive days and nights?

“So you’re that ‘Herald’ I’ve heard so much about”

Indeed, Seraphim was currently the corrupted who held the title, “Herald of Synoria”, the status of which was partially the reason as to why his name and power had become both renowned and feared in the world of the corruption.

The person had now arrived at the spot where Seraphim had landed, nonchalantly standing over the body that continuously spouted vile insults and profanities.

“I said, you’re too loud”

With the same level of ease as stepping on a twig, the person crushed Seraphim’s left shoulder under the heel of their boot, the crystalline arm tumbling to the side and shriveling up as it too lost its hue.

Seraphim screamed out in pain. It was the first time he felt true pain in a long time, as corrupted beings of his caliber weren’t subject to the expected weaknesses of their humanoid appearances. They could deactivate their ability to feel pain if they so desired, and didn’t require food, nor breath, nor rest.

“...Just what the hell are you..?”

Seraphim started to acknowledge the situation he was in as the person grabbed him by the throat and effortlessly raised his tattered body off the ground. It was at this point that Seraphim realized something amiss with his ‘enemy’.

“You’re the one who was meant to inherit that boy as a vessel, I assume?”

Seraphim began to consider the identity of the person before him.

“Wait- You’re not-”

Seraphim turned silent for a moment as he glared into the crimson eyes he once took for someone else’s. He hadn’t acknowledged it in his rage, but those eyes, those veins of corruption, and that winding mark on the back of this person’s right hand all pointed towards one truth: the person he was facing now, despite the nearly identical appearance, wasn’t the kid he’d fought before, but a corrupted being, and one inhabiting a vessel at that.

“You’re the one who interfered with the Finale Event, aren’t you? The one that caused a malfunction in the system and froze our surveillance within the barrier”

“So what if I am?”

“...and you stole the vessel from me.”

Seraphim’s tone was filled with spite.

“A vessel like this one only comes once in an eternity. Such a valuable asset could never be fully utilized by the hands of someone as pitiful as yourself”

Seraphim’s body began flailing around, engulfed in rage once more.

“If I weren’t like this- If it weren’t for that kid- I’d make you eat those words this instant!”

“It seems I’ve overestimated your capacity for knowledge. You really still haven’t put together my identity? Tsk tsk… you haven’t even considered why the kid was the one to defeat you when I’m clearly inhabiting the vessel. I wish I could give you at least some sense of self-worth before your demise…”

The ‘person’ gave Seraphim a mocking smirk as corrupted energy poured out from his body. 

Yelling out in desperate anger, Seraphim raised his remaining arm and attempted to trigger core manipulation on the target before him. Yet, the rush of his unsettled corrupted energy simply bounced off their body, scattering throughout the cavern as each stray beam raised massive explosions of stone upon contact with each ruined surface. 

“Y-you can resist core manipulation?! Who the hell even are you- Not even-”

As if amused by the situation, the person carelessly tossed Seraphim’s body aside before opening his ‘chest’ to reveal his core on the inside. After removing his core from its spot in his body, he dangled it in front of Seraphim’s face in a taunting manner.

Seraphim was left speechless by such a display. Even the most powerful corrupted beings would never willingly show off their core in such a manner, and to remove it completely from their body for a mere taunt was unthinkable. How overconfident, or rather, how truly powerful was this being?

“Well, I’ve given you enough time now. I’ve got my own matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave now”

Seraphim began to heave a sigh of relief as he saw their figure turn around. He wasn’t able to understand the pressure and fear he had been feeling until breaking eye contact with them.

That being then vanished in an instant.

“You didn’t really think I’d let you live for free, did you?”

In the next instant, Seraphim’s body was once more being held off the ground, his core being tightly grasped from behind by a hand that had pierced through his back. He wasn’t given even a chance to scream as a searing pain seized his mind, images of incomplete scenes throughout his past flashing before his eyes. Those scenes vanished from his sight and mind.

Then, as quickly as it started, the pain ceased. After being dropped to the floor, he used his arm to turn himself around and catch a glimpse of his aggressor. Of course, it was the same guy from before. Only, this guy now had a status window before him, one outlined in red borders, unlike the ones used by humans. 

[ Soul Absorption Complete. ]

Soul? There was no such attribute within the realms of humans nor corruption nor divinity-

[ You have obtained the following from The Herald of Synoria, Seraphim: 

1. < Ability > Heavenly Lance

2. < Skill > Core Manipulation

3. Memories of Seraphim ]

[ Your corrupted energy has drastically increased. ]

Sneaking glimpses at the status window, Seraphim began to comprehend the identity of this mysterious individual. A corrupted who used status windows, an unheard of attribute, the ability to resist core manipulation, the ability to absorb powers from others, the ability to read and take memories, all of these led to one conclusion:

“You’re his failed project… You were supposed to be dead… How did you..?”

“Curious to find out?”

With a flick of his finger, the person shattered Seraphim’s mind as his body began to uncontrollably change shape and size into something much more monstrous. Seraphim’s once prized core manipulation skill was now being used to end his own existence.

“You wanted to take hold of the shard, no?”

The person was now speaking as more of a cruel formality, as Seraphim no longer held the capacity for understanding language.

“That kid you hate so much is still out there. Based on your memories…”

An aerial shot of an unfamiliar town hovered before this person’s eyes.

“...He should be heading there next. Synoria Outlook”

The person turned his back to the creature that was once Seraphim and addressed the audience within the darkness of the cavern. With each word, dozens of glowing red eyes opened and pierced the darkness.

“You all will be working under this newest… ‘creation’”

He enunciated the word with spite.

“Wreak havoc and reclaim the shard”

His final words caused the beasts to roar into the sky with ferocious intensity. As the stampede of monsters scrambled up the walls of the cavern, the person was once more left alone, facing a new message within his status window.

[ You have conquered The Herald of Synoria, Seraphim. ]

[ The position and title, < Herald of Synoria >,  is now available. ]

[ The Failed Anomaly, Koharu, has become a Herald’s Candidate. ]